Ruminant Digestion and Feed Utilization

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Questions and Answers

Match the compartment of the ruminant stomach with its primary function:

Rumen = Site of microbial fermentation and absorption Reticulum = Acts as a sieve and starts rumination Omasum = Removes excess water from digesta Abomasum = Acid and enzyme digestion similar to monogastric stomach

Match the following volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to their relative proportions in the rumen:

Acetic acid = 60-70% Propionic acid = 15-20% Butyric acid = 10-15% Lactic acid = Less than 5% (typically present in smaller amounts)

Match the following rumen microorganisms with their primary substrate:

Cellulolytic bacteria = Cellulose Amylolytic bacteria = Starch and Sugars Proteolytic bacteria = Proteins Lipolytic bacteria = Lipids

Match the digestive process with the location where it primarily occurs in ruminants:

Microbial Fermentation = Rumen Acid and Enzymatic Digestion = Abomasum Nutrient Absorption = Small Intestine Water Reabsorption = Omasum and Large Intestine Signup and view all the answers

Match the following gases with their approximate proportion in the rumen:

Oxygen = Trace Amounts Carbon Dioxide = 76% Methane = 22% Hydrogen = 2% Signup and view all the answers

Match each type of carbohydrate with its fate in the rumen:

Cellulose = Fermented by cellulolytic bacteria into VFAs. Starch = Rapidly fermented by amylolytic bacteria, producing VFAs. Sugars = Quickly utilized by microbes for energy and growth. Pectin = Fermented to produce VFAs; contributes to energy. Signup and view all the answers

Match each protein degradation product with its fate in the rumen:

Rumen Degradable Protein (RDP) = Broken down by rumen microbes to peptides and amino acids. Ammonia = Used by microbes for growth or absorbed through the rumen wall. Amino Acids = Used to build microbial protein or further degraded to organic acids. Microbial Protein = Passes to abomasum and small intestine for digestion. Signup and view all the answers

Match each type of lipid with its processing in the rumen:

Triglycerides = Hydrolyzed to fatty acids and glycerol. Glycerol = Fermented to propionic acid. Unsaturated Fatty Acids = Hydrogenated by microbes. Saturated Fatty Acids = Absorbed through the rumen wall. Signup and view all the answers

Match each mechanism of nutrient absorption with its description:

Passive Transport (Diffusion) = Movement from high to low concentration without energy. Active Transport = Movement against a concentration gradient using cellular energy. Pinocytosis = Cells engulfing smaller molecules in solution. Facilitated Diffusion = Movement across membrane via transport proteins without energy. Signup and view all the answers

Match the description with the correct term related to rumen protein digestion:

Rumen Degradable Protein (RDP) = Protein that is broken down by microbes in the rumen. Undegradable Dietary Protein (UDP) = Protein that escapes rumen degradation and is digested in the small intestine. Microbial Protein = Protein produced by rumen microbes that is later digested by the animal. Ammonia = A product of protein degradation in the rumen that can be used by microbes for growth. Signup and view all the answers

Match each bacteria group to the substrate it ferments:

Cellulolytic = Plant fiber (Cellulose) Pectinolytic = Plant fiber (Pectins) Hemicellulolytic = Plant fiber (Hemi-cellulose) Amylolytic = Starch Signup and view all the answers

Match each volatile fatty acid with associated characteristic:

Acetate = Produced when animals consume more roughage. Propionate = Produced when animals consume diets that include a higher concentration of grain. Butyrate = Produced when less fiber is consumed. Lactate = Produced in excess it causes lactic acidosis. Signup and view all the answers

Match each term related to the rumen with its role:

Bloat = Occurs due to excess accumulation of gas. Rumination = Regurgitation and re-mastication of partially digested food. Symbiosis = Mutual benefit to the rumen organisms and the ruminant animal. Rumen Motility = The contractions of the rumen that mix digesta. Signup and view all the answers

Match how each compound is related to rumen environment:

Saliva = Contains urea, which is source of nitrogen for rumen microbes. Gases = Primary gases produced are carbon dioxide and methane. Water = Component of rumen fluid. pH = Maintained between 6.5 and 7 to support microbial function. Signup and view all the answers

Match the function with location in the ruminant digestive system:

Secretion of digestive enzymes = Small Intestine Fermentation of unabsorbed products = Caecum & Large Intestine Hollow Muscular Organ = Rumen Acts as sieve = Reticulum Signup and view all the answers

Match the protein digestion term with definition:

Protein deficient body = Thin body Transport protein = Hemoglobin Genetic Material = Genetic material (e.g. genes) Digestion aid = Organic acids, ammonia, and CO2 Signup and view all the answers

Match how the VFAs are used by the ruminant animal:

VFAs = Maintenance Glucose = Growth Lactation = Lipids Pregnancy = Amino acids Signup and view all the answers

Match description with correct plant component term:

Celluose = Structural carbohydrate Starch = Non-structural carbohydrate Fat = Lipid Minerals = Inorganic Signup and view all the answers

Match the substrate fermented for each microbial population:

Proteolytic = Proteins Ureolytic = Urea Cellulolytic = Plant fibre (cellulose) Amyolytic = Starch Signup and view all the answers

Match the approximate quantities of each stomach compartment in a cow:

Rumen = 60-100L Reticulum = 10L Omasum = 15L Abomasum = 20L Signup and view all the answers

Match the approximate size of the small and large intestine based on animal:

Cow small intestine = 30-50m Sheep small intestine = 20-35m Cow large intestine = 10m Sheep large intestine = 5m Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of absorption with its definition:

Diffusion = Movement of nutrients from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration. No energy required Active transport = Process that involves movements of substances against a concentration gradient. Involves the use of cellular energy to facilitate movement Pinocytosis = Process in which cells have the ability to capture or engulf smaller molecules in the solution Lymph = Chylomicrons and Lipoproteins Signup and view all the answers

Match plant components with how they are used:

Water = A part of plant material Water and glucose = Used in the animal's body VFAs absorbed directly from rumen = Reticulum, and abomasum Microbial protein = 70% of all protein absorbed in the small intestine Signup and view all the answers

Match the plant components converted to VFAs:

Sugars converted to = Butyrate Pectin converted to = Propionate Hemi-cellulose converted to = Acetate Absorbed across the rumen wall = Carried by the blood stream to the liver, used as an energy source for the animal Signup and view all the answers

Match the description of each compartment stomach with its major function:

Hollow and muscular organ with finger like projection = Rumen Acts as a sieve = Reticulum Has layered muscular organ to removes excess water = Omasum Glandular stomach with acid and enzyme digestion = Abomasum Signup and view all the answers

Match the ideal rumen environment characteristic with the correct value:

Warm = 37.5-42°C Moist = large quantity of water Anaerobic = Free of oxygen pH = 6.5-7, ie slightly acidic Signup and view all the answers

Match the relative percentage of the rumen microbe with its mass:

Bacterial mass per gram rumen fluid = 10-200 billion Rumen anaerobic fungus mass = Up to 8% microbial mass Rumen mass for protozoa per gram of rumen fluid = 100-900 thousand Level of rumen activity = Depends on ammonia concentration and level of pH Signup and view all the answers

Match the following protein related terms with their values:

Total amino acid from microbial protein sufficient to yield milk per day = Not more than 10 liters Excess ammonia = Absorbed via the rumen wall into the blood and converted into urea in the liver Lipids = Hydrolyzed to fatty acids and glycerol Water-soluble vitamins = Absorbed both by simple diffusion and carrier-mediated transport, which is sodium in non-ruminants Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of bacteria with the feed you would expect it to prefer

Cellulolytic Bacteria = Mainly roughage diets Amyolytic Bacteria = Mainly grain diets Sudden changes to diet = Rapid change to grain diet causes lactic acidosis Rapid change to diet can lead to = Streptococcus bovis Signup and view all the answers

Match the site where carbs are absorbed

In ruminants, most of the acids produced from carbohydrate fermentation = Absorbed directly from the rumen, reticulum, and abomasum In non-ruminants, simple sugars = Absorbed from the intestine into the portal blood system and then to the liver in the form of glucose Amino acids = Absorbed in the small intestine and pass into the portal blood system then to the liver Minerals = Absorbed across the gastrointestinal mucosa and enter the blood Signup and view all the answers

Match the Vitamin solubility and absorption with location.

Fat soluble vitamins = Are absorbed from the intestinal lumen using the same mechanisms as for absorption of other lipids (largely by diffusion) Water-soluble vitamins = Are absorbed both by simple diffusion and carrier-mediated transport, which is sodium in non-ruminants Vitamins synthesized by microbes = Are absorbed in the large intestine or, in the case of ruminants, the rumen Proteins and Lipids = Proteins and Lipids Signup and view all the answers

Match the nutrient to its function:

Protein = Structural (e.g. muscle) Hormonal = e.g. insulin Transport = e.g. hemoglobin Defense = e.g. immune bodies Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of digestion with its components:

Carbohydrates = Plant material fermented into simple sugars Microbes = Utilize simple sugars and produce waste products Gases = Heat, and VFAs Gases, Heat, and VFAs = Ratios of VFAs depend on type of diet consumed Signup and view all the answers

Match the material with whether it is soluble, storage, or structural depending on the animal's diet

Diet is soluble = Sugars Diet has storage = Starch Diet is structural = Cellulose Maintenance = Activity, Milk production, Body condition, Pregnancy, Growth Signup and view all the answers

Match the action of each bacteria regarding its primary substrate

Cellulolytic Bacteria = Produce cellulase Amylolytic Bacteria = Digests starches and sugars Excess ammonia = Is absorbed via the rumen wall into the blood and converted into urea in the liver Rapid change to diet = Can cause rapid change to grain diet that causes lactic acidosis Signup and view all the answers

Match the component with its role:

Rumen microbes breakdown = Rumen degradable protein (RDP) into peptides, amino acids, and ammonia Ammonia = Used by the microbes for growth and development Some of the amino acids = Further degraded to organic acids, ammonia, and CO2 The animal absorbs = VFAs, Glucose, Lipids and Amino acids Signup and view all the answers

Match the component with its role inside of rumin digestion:

For high yielding animals = Microbial protein synthesized in the rumen is not adequate to meet the animal's total amino acid requirements and so it has to be supplemented with by-pass protein The total amino acid obtained from microbial protein = Just sufficient to yield not more than 10 liters of milk per day VFAs are = Absorbed directly from rumen, reticulum, and abomasum Undegradable dietary protein (UDP) = Escapes Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Digestive System Components

The digestive system components include the mouth, rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, small intestine, oesophageal groove, and large intestine.

Rumen Function

The rumen is a hollow muscular organ with finger-like projections, serving as the primary site of absorption in ruminants.